Sponge element for mops



1959 N. B. GREENLEAF 2,897,528

SPONGE ELEMENT FOR MOPS Filed Jan. 11, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR N. 5. anti/V154,

Qug. 4, 1959 N. B. GREENLEAF SPONGE ELEMENT FOR MOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1955 INVENTOR SPQNGE ELElVlENT FOR MOPS Nathaniel B. Greenleaf, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Sponge Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 11, 1955, Serial No. 481,248

8 Claims. (Cl. 15244) This invention relates to improvements in sponge elements for sponge mops.

The cleaning or sponge element of a sponge mop has in addition to the function of applying a cleaning liquid and operating as a scrubbing element, the important function of picking or mopping up the dirty liquid.

In connection with its latter function, it is important to provide a sponge element which will present a large liquid absorbing surface area to carry out effective mopping.

It is also, of course, important to provide such a large liquid absorbing surface area sponge element which will form an effective scrubbing element and will be resistant to wear.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a sponge element which will present a large liquid absorbing surface area to be applied to a floor or other surface and which at the same time will be highly resistant to wear enabling a long sponge life to be obtained with a relatively thin and hence relatively small volume sponge.

Another importantobject is to provide a sponge element which will be particularly adapted for entering and cleaning corners.

' For easy and effective mopping it has been found essential to provide sponge mops with some means of compressing the sponge to wring therefrom the liquid and accumulated dirt absorbed by the sponge in the mopping action.

The most convenient manner of wringing the sponge has been found to comprise mounting of the sponge on plates carried by the mop which are adapted to swing to fold the sponge eliminating the necessity of any separate wringer plate which usually forms both an obstruction in the operation of the mop and a detriment to its appearance.

It is therefore another important object to provide a sponge element as aforesaid which is particularly adapted to be folded on itself to eliminate a very high percentage of the absorbed liquid.

Still another object is to provide a sponge element as aforesaid of economical manufacture which will present a symmetrical, attractive appearance when applied to a mop.

The principal feature of the invention resides in forming the sponge element as a V with two wings of cellulose or like sponge presenting two sponge working and liquid absorbing surfaces forming an acute angle therebetween, each of the wings presenting a backing opposite the working surface carrying means for detachably connecting same to the head or wringer elements of a mop.

Another important feature resides in forming each wing to present the sponge grain substantially perpendicular to the working face to provide maximum resistance to wear under the scrubbing action.

More particularly according to the present invention the V-shaped sponge element is formed of a pair of separate sponges joined together at least through a backing structure for relatively swinging movement, and cut Patented Aug. 4, 1959 In this connection it is an important feature ofthe invention that a V-shaped sponge element as above described on being folded to swing the backing receiving faces apart through alignment and towards parallelism on the opposite side of the apex has the surprising faculty of gathering in the sponge material at the apex of the element within folds of the sponge so that this critical sponge portion is thoroughly and effectively compressed and wrung.

With reference to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view broken away in part of a sponge element constructed in accordance with the invention and showing superimposed thereon in dotted lines the handle of a mop.

Figure 2 is a part end elevational, part vertical sectional view of the sponge element of Figure 1, showing the V formation formed by the sponge wings in their normal mopping position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 on a smaller scale, but showing the sponge wings swung generally into alignment in' the folding of the wings to compress and wring the sponge.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing a further step in the folding of the sponge element.

Figure 5 is again a part end elevational, part vertical sectional view showing the sponge element completely folded as the final step in the wringing action.

Figure 6 is a part end elevational part vertical sectional view of a modified form of sponge element showing the element secured to a mop illustrated in dotted lines.

Figure 7 is a part end elevational part vertical sectional view of the sponge element of Figure 6 showing it folded into the fully wrung position.

Figure 8 is a part end elevational part vertical sectional View of a slightly modified sponge element illustrating its application when mounted on a mop shown in dotted lines for cleaning corners, and;

Figure 9 is a part end elevational part vertical sectional view of a further slightly modified form of sponge element constructed in accordance with the invention.

With reference first to Figures 1 to 5, the sponge ele ment generally designated at 1 comprises a pair of elongated sponge blocks 2, each shown as comprising an elongated parallelogram presenting a bottom working face 3, an upper backing receiving face 4, and cut at one side 5 to form an acute angle a, with the bottom working face 3. The two sponge blocks 2 are secured together in side by side relation with the sides 5 contiguous to form a V formation in which the outer faces of the V constitute the bottom working faces 3, and the inner faces of the V constitute the backing receiving faces 4.

Secured to each of the backing receiving faces 4 is an elongated metal plate 6, carrying spaced screw-threaded posts 7 to enable the sponge element to be detachably connected to the wringer plates 8 of a mop generally designated at 9 and shown in dotted lines, particularly in Figures 2 to 4.

The plates 6 are shown as formed with flanges 10 extending over the outer sides 11 of the sponge blocks 2, and these plates are secured in position by a suitable adhesive such as cellulose acetate, which will provide a v bond between the plate and sponge material at boiling temperatures.

Adhered over the plates 6 and to the sponge material around theseplates, is a fabric 12 of canvas or" other suitable tough, strong material, whichsecures the sponge blocks 2 together-to formintegral sponge assembly, yet

at the same time allows folding of the sponge wings as illustratedinFigures 3 to 52 The sponge blocks 2 are-formed of cellulose sponge orother equivalent highly absorbent sponge material and-itis of particular importance to note that the sponge is so cut-that thesponge grain runs perpendicular, orat least substantially perpendicular, to the bottom work-ing faces 3:0f the spongeblocks as will be seen'by observing the-dottedlines 13in Figure 2.

A sponge element-1 as above described, comprising a; V formation is particularly-adapted for removingliquid from asurface being cleaned, which is one of the most importantfunctions of the sponge element.- In this connection the mop 9-can be employed to bring the bottom working face 3 of the'right hand sponge block Zinto contact with the floor or other surface, and once the block has absorbed sufficient moisture tosaturate it, a simple movement ofturning over the mop will bring the bottom working face S'ofthe other wing of the sponge element into contact with the floor, rendering instantly available twice the sponge area for liquid absorption that is presented' by a conventional sponge element comprising a. single rectangular block.

In another-of its important functions of scrubbing, th'e formation of the sponge element 1 as a composite structure employing two sponge blocks 2 to form the vjconfiguration above described giving-appreciably andpref erably maximum sponge thickness at the apex, 14 and 35 presenting the sponge grain in each wing perpendicular to the face 3; it is possible to present at all times regardless of which wing is employed in the scrubbing action, a working face highly resistant to wear and without any thin sponge areas.

The V-shapedsponge element is particularly. adapted for entering corners as illustrated in. connection with Figure 8 and'preferably the angle formed by the wings of the V issubstantially less than 90 degrees, andmay be of the order of 65 degrees, as illustrated in connection with Figure 9.

While the sponge element 1 has the wings. 2; at an acute angleless than 90 degrees as illustrated in Figure 2 with a forwardly projectingapex 14, it has been found thatv the folding of the sponge element to, in effect, turn the V inside out, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, gathers in the sponge material at the apex 14 and provides an effective wringing action. As the-WingsZ are first swung on swinging of the wringer plates Sinto alignment, the sponge material at the apex 14 as illustrated in Figure 3, projects below the bottom line 15 of the remainder of the working faces 3 and on further folding of the sponge is drawn down into a trough formation formed by the remainder of thebottom working faces 3as illustrated in Figure 4, until-substantially completely collapsed, as illustrated in Figure 5. Y

While the fabric 12' forms a means of connecting the, two sponge wings or blocks 2' together, these may also be secured together adhesively along their sides provided the adhesivehas sutficient flexibility to allow the folding action illustrated iii-Figures 3 to 5.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the sponge element plates 19 are, shown. as provided with screw-threaded.

attaching posts 22 enabling the sponge element to be connected to hingedmembers 23 and 24 ofa mop 25 to enable folding or wringing to be effected as illustrated in Figure 7.

In Figure 8 the slightly modified form of sponge element 26 is essentially the same as the sponge element 1 but is cut to form a trapezium. The sponge element 26 is shown mounted on a mop 27' with one of the sponge blocks connected to, the mop headjmemberZfi and the other connected to the presser member 24, with these members again being arranged to hinge about suitable axes 28whereby the sponge is folded in the manner illustrated in Figure 7'.

In the further embodiment shown in Figure 9 the angle defined by the sponge blocks 29 is shown as of the order of 65 degrees. Additionally, the fabric 30 forms the sole means of securing the sponge blocks 29 in their V formation, Again, the sponge blocks 29 are provided with backing plates 31, secured beneath the fabric 3 0 andjcarrying screw-threaded attachment posts 32.

I mod fi a nsQ u es 09 he po -a e againcut so that the grain extends perpendicular totbe bottom workingfaces of'the wings of the V:

While the fabric has been illustrated as adhered. Over the backing plates which is the preferred. form of. the invention it willbe understood thatit may also be, ad: hereddireetly to the sponge beneath these plates, or any other desired manner to form a flexible hinge. between.

the two sponge wings. Additionally the fabric whichis preferably carried to the edges of the sponge blocks, and may be carrieddown the edges forms a stiffening means for the sponge to increasethe bumper effect. of,

the sponge material:

It will be understood. that variousother modifications in detail and alterations may be made. withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. as. setforth in;the ape. pended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

l, A mopping. element comprising a pair of; elon gated sponge sections having a grain running in one direction thereof, each sponge section presenting alongitudinally extending lower working faceand upper. back ing-receiving face, and having the spongegrain running perpendicular to said lower working face, and. a: longitudinally extending face cut on a bias to said lower. working face to form an acute angle therebetween,.and

a fabric piece adhered, over a substantial area of. saidv backing-receiving faces of said sponge sections, and corn nectingsaidisections.withsaid biascut faces arranged in. contiguous relation to forrnan elongated V-shapedsponge assembly.

2. A mopping element as claimed in claim 1, in which.

the containedangle formedby said working faces. is; substantially less than QOdegrees.

3. A mopping element as claimed inclaim 2 in;which.

having a longitudinally. extendingface cut ona-bias to, form an acute angle betweensuchface and the workingface of the sponge, afabric. adheredoverasubstantial area of the backingreceiving face ofeachof said sponges for connecting said spongestogethen with'said bias-,cut-

sides in contiguous. relation to. formv an, elongated V- shaped sponge assembly, and means carried by the back.-

ing receiving facesof said spongesfor connecting each of said sponges to a mop; member,

5. A mopping element comprising a pair'of elongated sponge. blocks, having a sponge grainrunning in one. direction and having longitudinally extending sides biasedcut with-respect to their longitudinally extending bottom:

surfaces, disposed with the biased cut sides in side by side relation to define an elongated V-shaped sponge formation with the bottoms of said blocks forming the outer faces of said V, a backing formation secured to and extending between the longitudinally extending inner faces of said V and maintaining said blocks in said V- shaped formation, said blocks each having the grain thereof substantially perpendicular to the outer face of said V which its bottom surface defines.

6. A mopping element comprising a pair of elongated sponge blocks having a sponge grain running in one direction, each having a longitudinally extending Wide bottom working surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the sponge grain, a longitudinally extending upper backing receiving surface and at least one longitudinally extending side defining an acute angle with the bottomworking surface, said sponges being disposed in side by side relation with said sides defining the acute angles with said bottom being contiguous to form an elongated V-shaped sponge assembly and plate means disposed on the backing receiving surface of each of said sponge blocks and carrying screw threaded means for detach ably connecting said blocks to a mop member and a fabric bridging the joint between said blocks and disposed over said plate means and adhered to said sponge backing receiving surfaces around said plate means.

7. A sponge element as claimed in claim 6 in which said fabric forms the sole means of securing said blocks in side by side relation to form said V-shaped sponge assembly.

8. A mopping element comprising a pair of elongated sponge blocks having a sponge grain running in one direction, each having a longitudinally extending wide bottom Working surface disposed substantially perpendicular to the sponge grain, a longitudinally extending upper backing receiving surface and at least one longi tudinally extending side defining an acute angle with the bottom working surface, said sponges being disposed in side by side relation with said sides defining the acute angles with said bottom being contiguous to form an elongated V-shaped sponge assembly and plate means disposed on the backing receiving surface of each of said sponge blocks and carrying attaching means for detachably connecting said blocks to a mop member and means joining said blocks at their contiguous sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 330,619 Reed Nov. 17, 1885 565,589 Ballam Aug. 11, 1896 1,344,890 Henry June 29, 1920 2,026,177 Johannes Dec. 31, 1935 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 2,210,967 Vaughn Aug. 13, 1940 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5, 1941 2,540,768 Vaughn Feb. 6, 1951 2,722,701 Blum et a1 Nov. 8, 1955 2,840,843 Vavrinek July 1, 1958 2,852,797 Daubenspeck Sept. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 526,886 Belgium Mar. 31, 1954 

